Russian Foreign Ministry on COVID-19, Syria and Yemen

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova (MZ below) explained how Moscow is dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks in the country, saying:

"The Foreign Ministry works with the Operational Headquarters (OH) to prevent the import and spread of the new coronavirus infection in Russia." 

"Also, the Ministry has set up its own headquarters headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov. Decisions are being made in coordination with the Russian authorities."

"(M)any international events have been postponed…canceled, or dates are being changed."

"An entire package of actions is proposed." Much is being done online to minimize travel.

Russia's Foreign Ministry is posting information on its website about COVID-19 and measures to contain it.

On Syria, MZ said Vladimir Putin and Turkey's Erdogan reached agreement on halting violence in Idlib province.

It's likely to be short-lived as long as Turkish troops illegally occupy Syrian territory, permitting jihadists to use it as platforms for attacks on government forces and civilians.

Sporadic jihadist-initiated violence continues. On March 14, Southfront reported that (US/Turkish supported) terrorists blocked the strategically important M4 highway in southern Idlib, a statement saying:

"Any Russian patrol that would enter our land will be a target for us."

Endless war continues with no short-term resolution in sight because bipartisan hardliners in Washington reject restoration of peace and stability to Syria and all other US war theaters — why a permanent state of war continues longterm.

MZ stressed that "Washington's policy of encouraging Kurdish separatism and stealing Syrian (oil) does not help enhance security in northern Syria," adding:

"Serious apprehensions are caused by the lack of progress in resolving problems at the (terrorist infested) refugee camps in al-Howl and Rukban that are located on territories outside Damascus' control."

Israeli cross-border aggression is another major concern, the Netanyahu and Trump regimes allied against Syrian sovereignty and regional peace.

Endless war in Yemen continues, MZ noted — launched by the US, currently waged with the Saudis, "fierce classes" ongoing in parts of the country.

The so-called December 2018 Stockholm (conflict resolution) Agreement was repeatedly breached by the Saudis with full support and encouragement of the Trump regime.

Last week, AMN News reported that Saudi forces "launche(d) a large-scale offensive in northern Yemen."

At the same time, Houthi fighters advanced against Saudi-backed troops in the country's south.

On Saturday, Houthi missiles forced Saudi warplanes to abort a terror-bombing mission before beginning it.

An earlier Houthi statement called 2020 the "year of air defense" against Saudi aerial aggression, vowing to target and down its warplanes in Yemeni airspace.

According to MZ, Russia's position on Yemen stresses "the need to end the armed conflict as soon as possible and begin inclusive intra-Yemen talks under the auspices of the UN."

Launched by Bush/Cheney in late October 2001, conflict continues endlessly, no end of it in prospect.

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My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html